Islamabad (Pakistan): Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates to consider providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan, which is in dire need of financial aid since the Taliban seized power in August. Khan spoke with Gates, the co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), on Tuesday, to discuss polio eradication efforts and the Foundation's support towards improving nutrition as well as financial services in Pakistan, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.
“The Prime Minister highlighted that more than half of the population in Afghanistan was living below the poverty line and in dire need of financial assistance. He requested Mr. Gates to consider providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people,” according to the statement. The two expressed concern regarding the health system in Afghanistan, the only other country in the world that is polio endemic along with Pakistan, it said.
Read: Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa asks anti-graft commission to probe people named in Pandora Papers
They discussed the importance of polio campaigns resuming in Afghanistan to stop the disease and protect Pakistan's recent gains towards ending polio. Prime Minister Khan also updated Gates on Pakistan's continued progress against polio eradication and appreciated the invaluable assistance provided by BMGF towards that.